SavedAdd your journal

Journals / ANKEM Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 39 Sayı: 1

Microbial Transmission through Musical Instruments: The Role and Importance of Hand Hygiene

Müzik Enstrümanları Yoluyla Mikrobiyal Bulaş: El Hijyeninin Rolü ve Önemi

Okan Aydoğan(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-7275-8724
Volkan Gidiş(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4967-3030
Ezgi Gözün Şaylan(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-8964-7131
Arkut Berkin Yetim(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY)0009-0000-1930-0642
İbrahim Yıldıztepe(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY)0009-0006-2748-0317
Ayşegül Çopur Çiçek(İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi)0000-0002-3673-9670
Pages
1–6
Publication Date
2025-04-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Educating music students on proper hygiene practices and ensuring the consistent implementation of instrument disinfection protocols are essential for protecting both individual and public health.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Hand hygiene is a critical and cost-effective practice in preventing infections; however, compliance remains low worldwide, leading to significant public health concerns.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Swab samples were collected from 30 different instruments and the hands of 28 students and two faculty members, processed, and identified using conventional methods.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Educating music students on proper hygiene practices and ensuring the consistent implementation of instrument disinfection protocols are essential for protecting both individual and public health.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:El hijyeni · müzik aletleri · Staphylococcus condimenti

Abstract

Hand hygiene is a critical and cost-effective practice in preventing infections; however, compliance remains low worldwide, leading to significant public health concerns. This study examines bacterial colonization on string and percussion instruments used by students and faculty members of the Music Department at Istanbul Medipol University and evaluates hand hygiene practices among musicians. Swab samples were collected from 30 different instruments and the hands of 28 students and two faculty members, processed, and identified using conventional methods. Normal microbiota bacteria were detected in all hand swab samples. In 53.3% of the participants, no bacterial growth was observed on either their hands or instruments. However, pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also identified, indicating that musical instruments could serve as potential sources of infection. This study highlights the importance of hand hygiene and instrument cleaning in reducing microbial transmission risks. Educating music students on proper hygiene practices and ensuring the consistent implementation of instrument disinfection protocols are essential for protecting both individual and public health.

Özet

El hijyeni, enfeksiyonların önlenmesinde kritik, maliyet-etkin bir uygulama olmasına rağmen dünya genelinde uyum düzeyi düşüktür ve bu durum önemli halk sağlığı sorunlarına yol açmaktadır. Bu çalışma, İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Müzik Bölümü öğrencileri ve akademisyenleri tarafından kullanılan telli ve vurmalı enstrümanlar üzerinde bakteriyel kolonizasyonu incelemekte ve müzisyenlerde el hijyeni uygulamalarını değerlendirmektedir. Otuz farklı enstrümandan ve 28 öğrenci ile iki akademisyenin ellerinden alınan sürüntüler konvansiyonel yöntemlerle işleme alındı ve tanımlandı. Tüm el sürüntülerinde normal mikrobiyota bakterilerinin mevcut olduğu saptandı. Katılımcıların %53.3'ünde hem ellerinde hem de enstrümanlarında bakteri üremediği belirlendi. Bununla birlikte, Staphylococcus aureus ve Escherichia coli gibi patojenler de tanımlandı ve bu da müzikal enstrümanların enfeksiyon kaynağı olabileceğine işaret etti. Bu çalışma, el hijyeni ve enstrüman temizliğinin mikrobiyal bulaş risklerini azaltmadaki önemini vurgulamaktadır. Müzik bölümü öğrencilerinin uygun hijyen uygulamaları konusunda eğitilmesi ve enstrüman dezenfeksiyon protokollerinin sürekli olarak uygulanması bireysel ve toplumsal sağlığı korumak için elzemdir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Aydoğan, O., Gidiş, V., Şaylan, E. G., Yetim, A. B., Yıldıztepe, İ., Çiçek, A. Ç. (2025). Microbial Transmission through Musical Instruments: The Role and Importance of Hand Hygiene. ANKEM Dergisi, Cilt: 39 Sayı: 1, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.54962/ankemderg.1636920

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (32)

  1. Berneking L, Büttner H, Qi M, et al. Complete genome sequence of a Staphylococcus condimenti isolated from a port catheter-associated bloodstream infection. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2023;12:e00438-23.
  2. Birnbach DJ, Rosen LF, Fitzpatrick M, Arheart KL, Everett-Thomas R. Current hand hygiene education is suboptimal. Clin Teach. 2019;16(6):589-92.
  3. Bridges C. A study of the bacterial flora in selected student brass musical instruments (No. 3171033), (2005). University of Hawai’i doktora tezi. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cdbdc7ec-69f3-4066-bdd3-df18f957fb65/content (erişim tarihi 09.02.2025).
  4. Bryan H. Band wind instrument mouthpieces may harbor countless disease viruses and bacterial flora. Sci Educ. 1969;53(5):377-80.
  5. Cai Y, Zheng L, Lu Y, et al. Inducible resistance to β-lactams in oxacillin-susceptible mecA1-positive Staphylococcus sciuri isolated from retail pork. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:721426.
  6. Clark, Ashley, "Play That Funky Music: A Study of Bacterial Contamination of Wind Instruments" (No: FWA00003332), (2023). Eastern Kentucky University Onur Tezi. 956https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/956/ (erişim tarihi 09.02.2025).
  7. Çakmak B, Dursun AA. HHCS-Hand Hygiene Compliance System. 2019 Medical Technologies Congress (TIPTEKNO) kitabı, s. 1-4, Izmir (2019).
  8. Erdoğan M, Pamuk Ş. Microbial contamination in food, food- handlers’ hands and surfaces and evaluation of contamination sources by the similarity between isolates. Ankara Üniv Vet Fak Derg. 2020;67(1):73-9.
  9. Gabrielsen C, Kols NI, Øye C, Bergh K, Afset JE. Characterization of the virulence potential of Staphylococcus condimenti isolated from a patient with severe soft tissue infection. New Microbes New Infect. 2017;18:8-14.
  10. Glass RT, Conrad RS, Kohler GA, Bullard JW. Evaluation of the microbial flora found in woodwind and brass instruments and their potential to transmit diseases. Gen Dent. 2011;59(2):100-7.
  11. Kardaś-Słoma L, Yazdanpanah Y, Perozziello A, et al. Hand hygiene improvement or antibiotic restriction to control the household transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli: a mathematical modelling study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020;9(1):139.
  12. Kobayashi T, Nakajima K, Oshima Y, et al. First reported human case of spondylodiscitis by Staphylococcus condimenti: A case report and literature review. Intern Med. 2021;60(4):635-7.
  13. Kovacs-Litman A, Muller MP, Powis JE, et al. Association between hospital outbreaks and hand hygiene: Insights from electronic monitoring. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;73(11):e3656-e3660.
  14. Liu Y, Liu K, Yu X, Li B, Cao B. Identification and control of a Pseudomonas spp (P. fulva and P. putida) bloodstream infection outbreak in a teaching hospital in Beijing, China. Int J Infect Dis. 2014;23:105-8.
  15. Marshall B, Levy S. Microbial contamination of musical wind instruments. Int J Environ. 2011;21(4):275-85.
  16. Meservey A, Sullivan A, Wu C, Lantos PM. Staphylococcus sciuri peritonitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis. Zoonoses Public Health. 2020;67(1):93-5.
  17. Misawa Y, Yoshida A, Okugawa S, Moriya K. First reported case of Staphylococcus condimenti infection associated with catheter-related bacteraemia. New Microbes New Infect. 2014;3:18-20.
  18. Moore JE, Millar BC. Bacterial flora of stored musical instruments: Relevance to infection prevention and control. JPDTSM. 2022;1(3):156-7.
  19. Murphy, M. (2016). Microbes and music: Assessing risk for “Bagpipe Lung” in early wind musicians. ARS. 2016;57:11-4.
  20. Rayson D, Basinda N, Pius RA, Seni J. Comparison of hand hygiene compliance self-assessment and microbiological hand contamination among healthcare workers in Mwanza region, Tanzania. Infect Prev Pract. 2021;3(4):100181.
  21. Rusu HZ, Mutlu HB, Kilic V, Poyraz N, Eryilmaz H. Bacteria found in brasswind instruments: Analyses using culture-dependent method and culture-independent 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing method. Med Probl Perform Art. 2023;38(4):189-99.
  22. Saraiva MMS, de Leon CMCG, Silva NMVD, et al. Staphylococcus sciuri as a reservoir of mecA to Staphylococcus aureus in non-migratory seabirds from a remote oceanic island. Microb Drug Resist. 2021;27(4):553-61.
  23. Sasahara T, Hayashi S, Hosoda K, Morisawa Y, Hirai Y. Comparison of hand hygiene procedures for removing Bacillus cereus spores. Biocontrol Sci. 2014;19(3):129-34.
  24. Sasahara T, Hayashi S, Morisawa Y, Sakihama T, Yoshimura A, Hirai Y. Bacillus cereus bacteremia outbreak due to contaminated hospital linens. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011;30(2):219-26.
  25. Seok Y, Shin H, Lee Y, et al. 2010. First Report of Bloodstream Infection Caused by Pseudomonas fulva. J Clin Microbiol. 2010;48(7):2656-7.
  26. Stark J. First case of non-traumatic community-acquired Pseudomonas fulva infection. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2022;40(2):317-8.
  27. Stepanović S, Cirković I, Djukić S, Vuković D, Svabić-Vlahović M. Public transport as a reservoir of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2008;47(4):339-41.
  28. Tajdar M, Reynders M, Van Praet J, Argudín MÁ, Vandecasteele SJ, Nulens E. A case of a surgical-site infection with Staphylococcus condimenti. Infection. 2019;47(5):853-6.
  29. Tan JBX, de Kraker MEA, Pires D, Soule H, Pittet D. Handrubbing with sprayed alcohol-based hand rub: an alternative method for effective hand hygiene. J Hosp Infect. 2020;104(4):430-4.
  30. Uzuner N, Özcan N, Kangül H, Kadandır İR. Çoklu ilaç dirençli Pseudomonas fulva’nın etken olduğu ilk ürosepsis olgusu. FLORA 2020;25(2):269-74.
  31. Why is home hygiene important? - Hygiene–related disease inthe home community (2014). International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene. https://ifh-homehygiene.org/factsheet/why-home-hygiene-important-hygiene-related-disease-home-and-community/ (erişim tarihi 09.02.2025).
  32. Zecca E, Costanzo M, Croce A et al. First reported human case of meningitis by Staphylococcus condimenti. Infection. 2019;47(4):651-3.